Copyright 2006 David Nevogt

I have often been asked what I think the most important part of the setup is when you're getting ready to drive a golf ball. I don't know if there is one answer to that question.

The way I answer it is based on what I've observed over the past 30 years of teaching.

After you've addressed the golf ball, and this is not an easy thing to see, you might have to have someone watch. Or, I'll tell you how to check for yourself.

After you've addressed the golf ball and you're all ready to hit, I would say that 90% of the people that struggle with the driver have their shoulders aimed way off to the left.

Now, why? It's pretty simple. Oh, I don't know, 80% of the golfing public has a driver golf slice. So, if you slice the golf ball, you're going to try to aim off to the side, so when it recovers and comes back around it's in play.

Now, unfortunately, for those of you that have a driver golf slice, simply by squaring your shoulders up, that isn't going to take away the slice. But it's going to encourage the golf club to swing more from inside than from outside, and it will help it a lot.

You may need a grip change. But there's no question about it, the most important part of the setup for the driver has to be the shoulders.

Make sure they're aimed parallel to your feet, knees and hips going left of the target.

Now, if you're driving the golf ball poorly and not very consistent, let me give you these two golf swing instruction pearls. They go hand in hand.

And I promise you this will help you find out if your problem with your driver is in the backswing.

For you to become a really good driver of the golf ball and consistent, the shoulders have to turn. The only way they can turn in the backswing is if you have your chin up and not down.

Most mistakes that I've seen with amateur golfers in their difficulties of driving the golf ball is their posture.

Their head is too far down. The only thing your shoulders can do is go up in the air. You won't have the ability to swing the golf club around you. You won't have the chance of your shoulders turning.

So, the best golf swing instruction I can give you is, the next time out, after you've addressed the golf ball, gone through your routine and you're almost ready to swing the golf club back, simply lift your chin up in the air an inch or two. And don't forget that your shoulder should turn in the backswing.

If you have your chin up, the shoulder can turn around it. From there, you can really let it fly in the downswing.

Again, chin up, not down, promotes the shoulders turning in the backswing.

Try that the next time out and I promise you it'll help you.

Thanks.